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INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION
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CAN YOU PASS THE TEST?
Maxine Johnson – Gosford High School
WHAT IS A PONY?
Glen McGrath had a contract with the Pony brand of playing shoe.
Pony in Cockney = crap
WHAT IS MEANT BY
PAJERO
Mitsubishi launched an advertisement in South America
“have an affair with a Pajero!”
Pajero means ‘gay’ in South America
DEFINE TACO?
The global chain Taco Bell had problems introducing ‘the Taco’ to
the Japanese. Why?
Taco translates to idiot
WHAT IS FRESCA?
The word Fresca in Mexico translates
to Lesbian
PEPSI
Pepsi launched their “come alive with Pepsi” in Germany and
gained mixed reaction! Why?
Pepsi translates to “come out of the grave!”
THE NUMBER 7
Is lucky in Kenya
And unlucky in India
THE INDIAN CULTURE
EAT WITH THEIR
Right hand
CHINESE LACK A SENSE
OF PERSONAL SPACE
This is due to their overcrowding environment
THE ASIAN CULTURE
TEND TO NOT MAKE….
Eye contact
POLYNESIANS GREET
BY………
Rubbing noses
THE COLOUR WHITE IN
JAPAN SYMBOLISES…
mourning
ESKIMO MEN OFFER
THEIR WIVES…
To visitors for
the night to
keep them warm
IN INDONESIA, MEN…
…..hold hands
IN JAPAN, SHOES ARE
LEFT….
Outside the home
IN THE MIDDLE EAST,
WOMEN
Cover their head and body
WHEN WILL INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION SKILLS BE
USEFUL?
• Travel. Visits to temples.
• Living overseas.
• Work – global communication.
• Diplomat or politician.
INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION
• When do we need Intercultural communication skills and
knowledge?
Increasingly we travel overseas, work overseas, trade globally
and society is increasingly multicultural and culturally diverse.
200,000 Australians work in London!
Globalisation
INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION
“Communicating – transferring
messages and ideas – between
people across the gap caused by
cultural differences”
DO‘S AND TABOOS
AROUND THE WORLD
Greetings / Gestures
• Common in most countries: handshake
• Don‘t pull your hand away if an Arab businessman
walking with you takes your hand and holds it as
you go. It‘s a sign of friendship
• Kisses or embraces are common in Latin America
and Southern Europe
GREETINGS /
GESTURES
• In some countries of the Middle East you
have to get your shoes off before entering
your hosts home
• In Paraguay the guest usually greets the
host with a short, formal speech and asks
permission to enter
THE LEFT HAND
In most countries of the
Middle East and Asia
when you may have to
eat with your hands,
don‘t use the left one or
even touch food with the
left hand!
PUNCTUALITY:
• In Germany it‘s more important than in any
other country
• In England you may be ten minutes too late
but never be too early!
GIFTS:
• White lilies suggest death in Britain
• Dahlias and chrysanthemums are associated with death
in Spain
• In Brazil purple flowers are a sign of death
• No red roses in Germany
• Business gifts are not common in Ireland
• Don‘t offer gifts to government officials in Zambia
• In Uruguay it’s usual to send gifts before visiting
• Presenting a knife to a Japanese is symbolically
suggesting suicide
GIFTS
In the Arab countries do not
admire an object openly. You
may be the recipient of it
EATING / DRINKING
In Chinese cultures you have to say no without saying it
It is bad manners for the host not to keep filling your dish and for
you not to keep eating as long as your dish is full
..non-win-situation
In Egypt it‘s impolite to eat everything on the plate
No shoptalk over drinks and dinner (as soon as the day is done so
is business) in Britain
Don‘t ask for alcoholic drinks in the Middle East
• In Zambia the guest should ask for food because it‘s
impolite for the host to offer food first
• Refusing meal twice before accepting it in Jordan is
customary
• In Singapore: never drop anything in the street
• Also in Singapore streets and other places are kept
wonderfully clean -> don‘t drop cigarette butt...
• Never touch a persons head in Thailand
TIPS
In South Korea:
• Blowing your nose in front of others is considered bad
manners
• Women are not very liberated
• Men go through doors first
• Women help men with their coats
TIPS
• In Saudi Arabia women are forbidden to drive cars or ride
bicycles
• In Pakistan most businesses are closed on Fridays
• Don’t discuss Argentina in Brazil
• Colombians like discussions about black Colombian coffee
before any business is transacted
HOW DO PEOPLE COMMUNICATE?
Communication is the transfer of a message eg information
and ideas, from one person to another.
Communication can be verbal and non-verbal. About 35% of
total communication is spoken or written.
VERBAL AND NONVERBAL
Verbal includes language, tone,
volume, levels, speed and pauses.
Non-verbal includes body language,
gestures, clothing, conformity and
customs and norms.
POSSIBLE
MISUNDERSTANDINGS.
Misunderstandings due to
little or no eye contact in the
communication process. Is
he shifty??
Many men holding hands. Is
homosexuality common
here??
Your hosts look rather
alarmed when you wear your
shoes inside their house.
You invite new neighbours
to your home for dinner but
they do not want to make
conversation at the table!
You thought he was
agreeing with you but he
seems to be shaking his
head from side to side.
No whistling at night in the
Andaman Islands – as it
attract spirits.
OUTCOMES OF
MISUNDERSTANDINGS
Misleading stereotypes
Racism
ignorance
WHY ARE PEOPLE
LIKE THIS?
Enculturation: including prejudices
learned from family, peers and media.
Limited contact with people from other
cultural backgrounds.
Ethnocentrism: there’s only one way.
That’s our own. It’s best.
WHAT’S DESIRABLE?
• Cultural relativism.
• The recognition that
one culture cannot
be arbitrarily judged
by the standards of
another.
• Not judging others
by in terms of your
own values
• Acknowledging that intercultural
communication is a two-way
process.
• Realizing that ‘understanding’
does not necessarily mean
acceptance.
TO AVOID OR OVERCOME
INTERCULTURAL
MISUNDERSTANDINGS WE NEED TO
PRACTICE THE STRATEGIES OF
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION.
• Understand ‘cultural relativism’
• Overcome ethnocentric feelings – strive for empathy.
• Be willing to communicate and be enthusiastic to learn.
• Learn as much as you can about the culture you will be
communicating with eg values, customs, and gestures.
• Listen and observe carefully.
TO AVOID OR OVERCOME
INTERCULTURAL MISUNDERSTANDINGS
WE NEED TO PRACTICE THE STRATEGIES
OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION.
• Understand that you will make mistakes –so will the other
person. Persevere.
• Be willing to share your own culture with the other person
• Be aware that ‘culture shock’ may result in ill-considered
decisions and misunderstanding
• Learn some useful words and phrases in the other person’s
language – this opens doors and brings rapport and warmth.
• Re-examine your assumptions and hope the other person is
also re-examining theirs!
TO AVOID
MISUNDERSTANDINGS
• Use skills in : surety, adaptability, interaction, empathy,
initiative, self esteem, self awareness, willingness to learn the
culture.
•
Practice cultural relativism.
• Avoid ethnocentrism.